TOLEDO, Ohio -
One year ago, spring began with highs that soared all the way into the low to mid 80s. This time around, we're about 50 degrees colder than that, closer to the freezing mark. Despite the delayed start to spring, experts at the Toledo Botanical Garden say that spring, as far as the plants are concerned, is still on schedule.
"The plants are extremely resilient," Horticulturist Nick Guthrie told us. "Everything is right on pace as it should be.... We can already see some of the bulbs starting to emerge.... They'll hold off growing until they feel that warm air again."
When the cold weather does break, we'll likely see a fast jump into the 50s and 60s.
"I think people will be just a little more antsy to try to get out in the garden, so just hold off," Guthrie added.
Early-season vegetables, known as 'cold crops' shouldn't be planted until around the first of April, Nick says.
Our final frost doesn't typically occur until mid-May.
"Until you start to see things beginning to flower, followed by colder spells, that's when you need to start paying more attention to what's in the garden, and how you can protect those plants."
One plant that has sprung to life in this cold air is witch hazel. It's one of the earliest to bloom in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. If we were to fast forward two to three weeks into the future, witch hazel will have a lot more company, with other plants springing to life.
The experts say that if you do have plants covered, make sure you uncover them when we do warm up.
Otherwise, heat and excessive humidity under the cover can harm the plants.
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